The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced a package of mental health supports for Chicago residents who may be facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has impacted the psychological and emotional wellbeing of many people, with national surveys indicating increased levels of social isolation, stress, and worries about the future. The City is responding by piloting new approaches to mental health services that will increase access for Chicagoans who may want additional support.  CDPH will be partnering with four leading community mental health organizations and providing $1.2 million in funding to expand access for persons living with serious mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or co-occurring disorders. The four organizations – Friend Health, Healthcare Alternative Systems, Thresholds, and Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare – are geographically distributed across the city and have deep histories in the communities they serve. They will expand access to Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) services and Community Support Teams (CST), with a focus on Chicago’s South and West Sides.